Edge aligning means for travelling combining webs



June 21,4960 P. DENSEN ETAL EDGE ALIGNING MEANS FOR TRAVELLING COMBINING WEBS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 OF w E 9 1 6. ww om V m N o: d e l i F INVENTORS Paul Densen Lawrence H. Roberts June 21, 1960 P. DENSEN EI'AI. 2,941,572

EDGE ALIGNING MEANS FOR TRAVELLING COMBINING WEBS Filed May 6, '1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 8

INVENTORS Paul Densen Lawrence H. Roberis June 21, 1960 DENSEN ETAL EDGE ALIGNINC MEANS FOR TRAVELLING COMBINING WEBS Filed May 6, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 AJQPL [:1 IJUHHHUHHUHK FIG 7 INVENTORS Paul Densen Lawrence H Roberts June 21,1960 P. DENSEN ETAL 2,941,572

EDGE ALIGNING MEANS FOR TRAVELLING COMBINING WEBS Filed May 6, 1957 4 Shepts-Sheet 4 INVENTORS Paul Densen Lawrence H. Roberts EDGE ALIGNING MEANS non TRAVELLING COMBINING wuss.

Paul Densen, West Orange, and Lawrence H. Roberts,

Clifton, N.J., assignors to Eastern Corrugated Container Corporation, Clifton, NJ.

Filed May 6, 1957, Ser. No. 657,222

" 1 Claim. c1.1s4 s1 This invention relates to the manufacture of corrugated boardand, more particularly, to novelmechanism for maintaining accurate edge alignment of the. several sheets of paper, used in forming the board, as they are combined to make the board.

In the manufacture of corrugated paperboard, a first sheet, known as the medium, is fed from a supply roll between two heated metal rolls having fluted surfaces which corrugate the medium. While the medium is maintained in contact with one of the corrugating rolls, it is glued to a second fiat sheet called the first liner. The gluing is performed under high heat and great pressure by means of a smooth surface roll pressing the first liner I against the corrugated medium engaged with the one corrugating roll. The product at this stage is known as a sheet of single face corrugated paperboard.

In thenext step of the operation, a sheet of paper called the second liner is glued to the opposite face of the medium. This is effected byapplying glue to a surface of the single face and then passing the combined single face and second'liner over one or more highly heated metal plates against which the two liners and the medium are pressed by a series of metal rolls.

with the weight (thickness) of the paper sheets and is regulated by varying the rate of movement of the sheets over the hot plates.

The corrugated board is purposely made oversize in width to allow subsequent edge trimming to provide smooth even edges, as the board emerging from the machine, and before trimming, does not have such smooth 7 even edges. The trimmed board may then be slit to narrower widths, if desired, and cut into desired lengths.

If'at least one edge of each sheet could be kept in perfect alignment with the corresponding edges of the other sheets during the gluing operations, the resulting corrugated paperboard emerging from the final gluing and heating operation would have at least one smooth even edge. Thus, only one edge, at the most, would have to be trimmed. This would not only cut down the percentage of scrap but would also substantially reduce the slight crushing of the board attendant upon the trimming steps. This tendency of the cutting or trimming operations to break down the corrugations gives the board a weakened appearance.

In accordance with the present invention, accurate alignment of the corresponding edges of the several sheets is automatically maintained by using known edge controlling and positioning mechanism in operative association with novel means interconnecting such mechanisms in such manner that any variation in the position of an edge of one sheet automatically effects an accurate corresponding variation in the position of the corresponding edge of another sheet or sheet assembly being joined to such one sheet.

The known edge positioning control mechanism preferred for use in the present invention comprises a sensing nozzle assembly, a regulator unit, and a work edge posi- The duration of t the pressure heat applications is varied in accordance.

tioning unit. The sensing nozzle assembly includes a pair of rectangular or slotted orifice nozzles having their discharge ends facing each other in alignment and spaced a short distance apart. Air under pressure is discharged from one nozzle, known as the pressure orifice, into the other nozzle, known as the recovery orifice," and the pressure air received by the latter is applied against one side of a delicate diaphragm, the air pressure being.

central or balanced position by adjustment of its biasing spring. Any lateral movement of the sheet or web will correspondingly vary the air entering the recovery nozzle and thus correspondingly shift the position of the diaphragm.

The shifting of the diaphragm controls the position of a pivoted discharge nozzle in the regulator unit which, in the neutral or balanced position of the diaphragm, delivers equal amounts of fluid under pressure to tubes or conduits leading to opposite ends of a cylinder in the Work positioning unit. As the pivoted nozzle is shifted away from its neutral position, the fiuid delivered to one end of the cylinder is decreased and that delivered to the other end is increased. As a result, a piston in the cylinder is shifted to move web steering and alignment means in a corrective direction to restore the controlled edge of the web to its pre-set lateral position.

In accordance with the invention, one of these edge control mechanisms is operatively associated with a selected edge of the medium so as to automatically maintain this edge in pre-set position. The sensing nozzle assembly of this mechanism is adjustably mounted on a calibrated shaft connected by mechanical linkage to a second calibrated shaft in such manner that both shafts are movable only as a unit and in the same direction. This second calibrated shaft has adjustably mounted thereon the sensing nozzle assembly of a second edge control mechanism whose work positioning cylinder-piston assembly, or fiuid actuator, is connected to the aforementioned mechanical linkage.

Before starting the board forming operation, both sensing nozzle assemblies are adjusted to the same position on their respective calibrated shafts. The selected edge of the: medium web is then accurately positioned centrally of the nozzles ofthe first edge control medium, and

the corresponding edge of the first liner is accurately centered relative to the nozzles of the seco'nd edge control mechanism. During operation, the first edge control mechanism accurately maintains the edge of the medium web in its pre-set lateral location. Should the corresponding edge of the first liner web vary from its pre-set location, the resultant operation of the fluid actuator of the second edge control mechanism will, through the mechanical linkage, shift both sensing nozzle assemblies as a unit in the same direction until the pregated face of the single face web, and it is highly desirable to maintain corresponding edges of the second liner and single face Webs aligned. For this purpose, a

, third edge control mechanism is provided having its sens- Patented June 21, 1960 ing nozzle assembly operatively associated with the controlled edge of the second liner, and its fluid actuator controlling guiding or aligning means, such as steering roller means, for the latter. This third sensing nozzle unit is mounted on a parallel linkage support which carries a grooved'pulley having a cylindrical surface engaged with the edge of the single face web and having its projected line of contact laterally bisecting the third sensing nozzle assembly. The parallel linkage support is spring biased to maintain the pulley engaged with the controlled edge of the single face web. Thus, any lateral shifting of the latter will correspondingly shift the third sensing nozzle assembly, and this results in the fluid actuator of the latter operating the second liner guiding means to maintain the'two corresponding edges in alignment as the second liner is glued to the single face.

For an understanding of the invention principles, reference is made to the following description of a' typical embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, In the drawing:

Fig. l is a schematic side" elevation view of a corru-- gated paperboard machine embodying the invention;

Figs. 2 and 3 are side elevation views of a"single face sheet and a completed board, respectively;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation view of a board, illustrating the crushing effect which'may occur during trimming of the-edges;

Pig. 5- is a schematic side elevation view of a known edge control mechanism used in the invention apparatus;

' Fig. 6 is an end elevation view of the means maintaining accurate alignment of corresponding edges of the single face and second liner";

Fig. 7 is a partial plan view of'this means;

Fig: 8 is'a side elevation view of said means;

Fig. 9 is a transversesectional view of a steeringroller used in the invention apparatus; and

Fig. 10 is an enlarged elevation view illustrating one of the calibrated shafts.

Referring-to Fig. 1, a first paper web 10, hereinafter referred to as the medium, is fed from a roll 11 over a guide roll 12, through steering rolls l5 controlled by an edge control mechanism hereinafter described, over guide roll 13, and between highly heated steel rollers 14 having longitudinally fluted surfaces which corrugate web 10 due to the heat and pressure exerted by rolls 14. A roll 16' applies glue to the corrugated medium. At the same time, a second paperweb 2.0, hereinafter referred to as the first liner, is fed from a rol1..l7 over,

guide rolls 18,'between which is disposed' a sensing nozzle assembly described hereinafter, over a guide roll 33, and between medium lit, on onefluted' roll 14, and a pressure roll 21. RollsZl and 14 pressmedium 10 and first liner 29 together to joint them into a single face web 25 as shown in Fig. 2.

The single face web 25 is then fed" over guide rolls 22 and a glue applying roll 23 toward a series of heated metal plates 24 associated with pressure rolls 26. Roll 23 applies glue to the exposed surfaces of medium ltl. Plates 2-? and pressure rolls 26 applying heat and pressure to join single face 25 to a second liner 3%. The paper web forming second liner 3% is fed from a roll 27 over'a guide roll 28 and a steering-roll 31. Just beyond roll 31 is a sensing nozzle assembly described more fully hereinafter. Second liner 3% then passes over guide roll 32, and between plates 24 and pressure rolls 26 in contact-with medium it). The completed corrugated paper board 35, shown in Fig. 3, then passes through rotary edge trimmers 33 and through out off knives fi l-which cut the board to length. A vacuum devicefiii removes scrap material.

lfthe edges of the three webs l0, 2% and 38, are not accurately, aligned, material must'be trimmed from-bO-th edges ot" board 35 to form smooth even edges on'tiie board. This not only.- wastes material, but may also result in slight crushing of'lmediurn, 1.0, as illustrated in;

Fig. 4, giving board 35 a weakened appearance which detracts from its sales appeal.

To maintain accurate alignment of corresponding edges V of the three webs, the present invention uses known edge control mechanisms, of the type shown in Fig. 5, in comcally' illustrated is designed to automatically maintain Y the edge of a web in a predetermined lateral location.

Mechanism ill comprises sensing nozzle assembly S,a

regulator unit R, and a fluid actuator F. The actuators, and particularly actuators F4 and F-3, are shown sche- .matically in Fig. 1, 'and'not in practical operating position. Sensing nozzle assemblyS comprises a pressure nozzle il receiving airunder pressure from line 42 and discharging the air into a second nozzle 43. Nozzles 43 have elongated orifices, which may be slotted and which extend parallel to the edge of a webW. These orifices are vertically aligned and web W is disposed with its controlled'edge bisecting the lateral extent of the orifices;

Nozzle 43 is' connected by a line 44 to a housing 46 enclosing a diaphragm connected by link 47 to a pivoted nozzle 59.. An adjustable light spring 48 biases diaphragm d'fi'toward line 44. Spring 48 is so set that, with web W positioned as stated, the spring'balances the air pressure againstthe diaphragm 45' so that the latter remains in a neutral position.

Nozzle 50 is supplied with fluid under pressure from a line 51 andnormally discharges equal amounts of fluid into orifices'or nozzles 52, 53 connected to opposite ends of cylinder 54 of fluid actuator-IF. This cylinder contains a piston 55' having a rod 56 connected'to web steering rolls or other web guiding or aligning means. web W shifts its-position, the change in air pressure results in movement of diaphragm 45 and nozzle 50. This inversely Varies the fluid delivered to opposite ends of cylinder. 54 to' shift: piston 55 and-its connected web steering means in a web-position-correcting direction.

8-1 is adjustably mounted on a calibrated shaft 57 for lateral adjustment relative to the edge of medium. 10. Shaft 577is, connected by linkage 60 to a second calibratedshaft 58. on which is adjustably mounted the sensing; nozzle, assembly S2 of a second edge'controlmechanism Assembly s2 15 adjustable along shaft 58- laterally relative to the. corresponding edge of first liner- 20; The

fluid actuator F.2 of mechanism-4W4 is connectedjto linkage 6i), and the linkage is so designed that shafts 57' and 58 are. moved in unison and in the same direction.

relativeto the corresponding edges of medium 10 and, first liner 20, respectively. A 7

With the described arrangement, mechanism 40-1. automatically maintains thecontrolled edge ofmedium 1t) centered in assembly'SJ. in advanceof starting the board forming operation, assemblies S l and S 2 are accurately set at the samepoint onttheir respective shafts" 57 and 58. Thereby, the corresponding edges of medium 10 and first liner 29 are accurately aligned; During operation, should-first liner 20 shift laterally, the resultant I operation of actuator F-2 will move both nozzle assem: 'l

blies. S-1 and S-2 until the edge of first liner 20 isagaincentered 'laterally of assembly S2. Thecorresponding operationiof actuator F-l will shift mediumzlfl until it is accurately centered laterally of assembly S 1,

thus maintaining the edge of medium lil'aligned with the corresponding edge of first liner'20.

Referring to Figs. 1, 6, 7 and 8, a third edge control mechanism 4il3 is utilized to maintain the corresponding edge of second liner 3t) aligned with the edgerof. single face 25; in this. case,, nozzle assembly .S-3' is centered laterally of the edge of second liner 3t and fluid actuator F-3 controls steering roll 31 for the second liner. Nozzle assembly 8-? is mounted for lateral movement in unison with a grooved pulley 65 having a cylindrical surface 66 engaging the corresponding edge of single face 25.

Assembly S-3 and pulley 65 are mounted on a parallel linkage 70 in such manner that surface 66 extended laterally bisects assembly 8-3.

Parallel linkage 70 includes a bottom support bar 67 arranged to be secured to the framework of the machine to extend horizontally. The end of this bar carries a cross-shaft 68 on which are pivotally mounted a pair of main links 71 biased to swing toward single face 25 and second liner 30 by means of coil springs 72. The upper ends of main links 71 carry a cross shaft 73 extending through an upper support bar 74. A pair of auxiliary links 76 are pivotally connected between a cross shaft 77 in lower bar 67 and a cross shaft 78 in upper bar 74. With the described arrangement, upper bar 74 will always move parallel to lower bar 67 during swinging of links 71 and 76.

Square or polygonal abutments or posts 81, 82 project upwardly and downwardly from the inner end of bar 74, and serve as mounting anchors for the supports of nozzle assembly S-3. Pressure nozzle 41-3 of the assembly 8-3 is mounted in a support 83 clamped to post 82, and recovery nozzle 43-3 is mounted in a support 84 clamped to post 81, the nozzles being in facing coaxial alignment.

A support arm 80 is bolted to support 84 to extend upstream at right angles thereto, and has a forked outer end in which is secured a vertical post 85 having a square or polygonal cross-section. The upper end of post 85 is reduced and cylindrical, as at 86, to form a shaft for pulley 65. Pulley 65 rests on a sleeve 87 on shaft 86 and is held in position by a nut 83 threaded on the reduced upper end 91 of shaft 86 and holding a washer 92 against a sleeve 93 engaging the upper side of pulley 65. The relation of pulley 65 and assembly 5-3 is such that the common axis of nozzles 41-3 and 43-3 is aligned with cylindrical surface 66.

In operatoin, if single face 25 shifts laterally, the pulley 65 will correspondingly shift due to springs 72 biasing the pulley toward the edge of singly face 25. Shifting of pulley 65 will shift assembly S-3 resulting in corrective action by actuator F-3 on steering roll 31 to shift second liner 30 to maintain its edge laterally centered in nozzle assembly S3. Thus, the single face and second liner have their corresponding edges maintained in accurate alignment during the gluing operation.

Should there be a rough edge on the single face or liner, or should it be desirable to disengage the control for any reason, the parallel linkage may be swung to the retracted position, shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6, by the operator grasping a pin 90 on the outer end of bar 74. A spring pressed locking pin 95, in a cylindrical cross member 96 secured between main links 71, latches the linkage in retracted position. The latch may be released by a sharp inward blow on the outer end of bar 74 or on pin 90.

Fig. 9 shows a typical mounting of a steering roll such as 31. Roll 31 is rotatably mounted in spaced arms projecting from the ends of a generally channel shape bracket 100, and a paper guard 101 is secured to extend in substantially parallel spaced relation to the surface of roll 31. Bracket 100 is bolted to a plate 102 eccentrically disposed on the outer end of a shaft 103 and preferably integral therewith. Shaft 103 projects through a hole in the base 104 of bracket 100 and through a hole in the base 106 of a fixed channel bracket 105. A bearing housing 107 is secured to the inner surface base 106 and contains anti-friction bearings 108, 109 supporting shaft 103. Piston rod 56 of fluid actuator F3 is secured by a link (not shown) to bracket 100.

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown. and described in detail to illustrate the application of the invention principles, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is:

In a corrugated paperboard machine of the type including means for corrugating a first paper web to form a corrugated medium, means to adhere a first liner web to one side of said medium to form a single face board, and means to adhere a second liner web to the other side of said medium to complete the board; apparatus for maintaining corresponding edges of the webs accurately aligned during the joining operation, said apparatus comprising, in combination, a first edge control mechanism including edge sensing means arranged in predetermined lateral relation to a selected edge of said medium, first steering roller means operable to laterally adjust said medium and engaging the latter just in advance of said sensing means, and a first actuator operatively associated with said sensing means and said first steering roller means and operable, upon lateral shifting of said medium, to operate said first steering roller means to restore the edge of said medium to said predetermined lateral relation; first edge scanning means operatively associated in predetermined lateral relation with the corresponding edge of said first liner web; first positioning means operatively associating said first edge sensing means and said first edge scanning means and operable, upon lateral shifting of said first liner web, to correspondingly shift said first sensing means and said first edge scanning means to maintain said corresponding edges in accurate predetermined relation; a second edge control mechanism including second edge sensing means arranged in predetermined lateral relation to a selected edge of said second liner web, second steering roller means operable to laterally adjust said second liner web and engaging the latter just in advance of said second sensing means, and a second actuator operatively associated with said second sensing means and said second steering roller means and operable, upon lateral shifting of said second liner web, to operate said second steering roller means to restore the edge of said second liner web to said predetermined lateral relation; second edge scanning means operatively associated in predetermined lateral relation with the corresponding edge of said single face board; second positioning means operatively associating said second edge sensing means and said second edge scanning means and operable, upon lateral shifting of said single face board, to correspondingly shift said second sensing means to maintain said corresponding edges of said single face board and second liner in accurate predetermined relation; a parallel linkage; said second scanning means comprising a pulley rotatably mounted on a laterally shiftable element of said parallel linkage and having a cylindrical surface engaging an edge of the single face board; and means biasing said linkage to maintain such engagement; said second sensing means being mounted on said element in fixed relation to said pulley.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

